American healthcare system must prepare for older, aging population

Om Sakhalkar is a medical student at the Medical College of Georgia. He is the President of the American Medical Association – MCG Chapter and a clinic coordinator at the Asian Clinic.

Over 54 million. That’s how many Americans were over the age of 65 in 2019, making up over 15% of the population. Here in Richmond County, we have roughly 30,000 senior citizens. The number of Americans over the age of 65 is projected to accelerate to as many as 80.8 million Americans by 2040 and 94.7 million Americans by 2060, representing an astounding 75% increase in older Americans across a timespan of just 41 years.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Community Living is responsible for kicking off Older Americans Month every May, with a different theme for each May. This May, the theme is “Age My Way.” The purpose of this year’s theme is to focus on how senior citizens can live independently for as long as possible. 

https://www.augustachronicle.com/story/opinion/2022/05/15/american-healthcare-system-must-prepare-older-aging-population/9743688002/